Today's news summary, Dec. 9, 2013

NEWS: Nine people are recovering from injuries sustained this morning during a two-vehicle crash on Route 9G. Police said a Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. pickup and a white van from the Devereux Foundation collided around 10:30 a.m. near 2008 Route 9G. The road was closed for much of the day while investigators tried to determine the exact cause of the crash. Hyde Park police said there was a driver, an adult chaperone and five students in the van. Devereux executive director John O'Keefe said the students were ages 15-20. The van was traveling north to Devereux's Red Hook school, he said. The school was on a two-hour delay. The students were transported to Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck with non life-threatening injuries, police said. The most seriously hurt were the driver of the van and the two people in the Central Hudson pickup, police said. The adults were transported to Saint Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie. The injuries to the adults were described as serious but not life-threatening by police. "It appears at this point the biggest contributing factor in the crash is ice on the roadway," said Chief Eric Paolilli of Hyde Park police. Crash investigators from the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office will handle the investigation.

A former Millbrook High School student is accused of driving his car across the school's new softball field, state police said. Max T. Wilson, 19, of Millbrook, is charged with second-degree criminal mischief, a felony, for allegedly causing $1,500 worth of damage to the field. Police said the school made contact with authorities about the vandalism on Dec. 1. He was identified as a suspect based on video surveillance footage, police said. Wilson is due in Town of Washington Court on Dec. 17 to face the charge, police said.

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama visited Dutchess County today with a tour of Val-Kill, the national historic site dedicated to Eleanor Roosevelt. Mahama addressed the recent death of Nelson Mandela, tying it with the anniversary of Human Rights Day and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. His address was recorded for students from Bard College, Bard High School Early College Queens and Shaker Junior High School. The students are participating as part of the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, a series celebrating and examining the work of former Bard College professor Chinua Achebe. "I want to remind you that human rights begin with you," Mahana said in his address. "The only ways we can live up to the ideals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is to accept that the fight for human rights is our fight as well." Mahama was scheduled to deliver the inaugural Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum Lecture in the Sosnoff Theater at The Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College in Annandale this evening.

Justin Curran still has not accepted a plea bargain for pending charges of assault and an alleged escape attempt from the Dutchess County Courthouse. After asking for more time to decide in a meeting Friday with Judge Stephen L. Greller and the prosecuting and defense attorneys, he still has not made a decision of how to proceed. Curran's attorney, Bruce Petito, said that the issue with the case is whether or not he had the intent to injure the officers at the courthouse and escape. "He still has trouble admitting the fact of whether or not he committed these crimes," Petito said. Today, Curran, 37, requested a chance to seek new counsel but the judge said that on the eve of trial, he did not feel inclined to grant his request. Judge Greller's intention is to begin selecting a jury and start trial on Tuesday or Wednesday. Curran was convicted last week of the murder of 67-year-old Laurie Ferguson on Nov. 21, 2012.

SPORTS: The Marist College women's basketball team received a boost on Monday as senior point guard Casey Dulin returned to practice for the first time since injuring her foot during a scrimmage on Oct. 26 and undergoing surgery on Nov. 1. The Red Foxes won half of their eight games without her this season, and will next play Dec. 14 at Boston University.

COMING TUESDAY: Radiant Orchid is the color of the year, according to Pantone. Learn more in Life.

WEATHER: It's going to be cold tonight, with a low of about 26, the National Weather Service says. For Tuesday, snow is likely before 2 p.m. with accumulations of 1- 2 inches possible and a high of about 32.

To read the complete versions of these stories, click "Top News" in the navigation of your tablet site, iPhone or Android app or the Journal's mobile site, m.poughkeepsiejournal.com. You can also visit www.PoughkeepsieJournal.com.

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Today's news summary, Dec. 9, 2013

A car crash on Route 9G injures nine people; a Millbrook teen is charged with damaging a high school field and Ghana's president visits Val-Kill.